Keep the core answer concise enough to create a conversation rather than reciting your full resume.

Aim to connect your pre-MBA background, the reason you pursued the MBA and why consulting is the logical next step. You do not need to explain every role or activity.

A clear two-minute answer is often a useful practice target, but the exact length matters less than whether the story is easy to follow and relevant.

Lead with the important transitions and let the interviewer pull on details. If you consistently run long, remove chronology that does not change the consulting story. For more detail, see the Tell Me About Yourself consulting interview guide.

Two minutes was a good ceiling for me. Anything longer started feeling like a resume walkthrough.

The MBA is a bridge in the story, not another section where you list every club.

The MBA process moves fast, so I would rather get one direct answer from recruiting than build a plan around assumptions. In my case, the exact timing around how long should my 'tell me about yourself' answer be for mba consulting interviews mattered most.

I found that second-years who had just gone through the same process gave much better context than generic online advice. In my case, the exact timing around how long should my 'tell me about yourself' answer be for mba consulting interviews mattered most.